(a)    Subject to the authority of the Secretary, the Commission shall:

(1)    Keep minutes of its meetings and any other records it considers necessary;

(2)    Cooperate with and assist schools in coordinating and improving all emergency services education and training activities;

(3)    Cooperate with the University of Maryland in developing a program for accrediting emergency services instructors;

(4)    Consult with emergency services instructors and personnel to develop minimum uniform education and training standards for emergency services instructors, personnel, and schools;

(5)    Cooperate with schools to help standardize course content and reciprocity of college credits for emergency services education and training;

(6)    Cooperate with appropriate government agencies to develop and maintain a current master plan for emergency services education and training;

(7)    Cooperate with the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute to develop and operate a system for collecting, analyzing, and exchanging information on emergency services education and training;

(8)    Encourage, promote, and review new techniques, methods, and procedures for emergency services;

(9)    Cooperate with and review material from other states and federal agencies on emergency services education and training;

(10)    Recommend to the Secretary rules and regulations necessary or appropriate to accomplish the purposes and objectives of the Commission;

(11)    Review any proposed or adopted national standards or certification programs for emergency services and recommend to the Secretary the actions that should be taken regarding them;

(12)    Prepare an annual report on the activities of the Commission to the Secretary, the Governor, and, subject to § 2-1246 of the State Government Article, the General Assembly; and

(13)    Provide a place of storage for the records of the Commission and the original Governor’s Commission on Fire Services.

(b)    The Maryland Higher Education Commission shall provide staff services for the Commission.